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Classification is a unique and integral part of sport for people with a disability. The purpose of classification is to ensure fair and equitable competition at all levels of sport and to allow athletes to compete at the highest level, regardless of individual differences in physical function.
Classification systems have been in use in sport for people with a disability since the mid-1940s. The early classification systems were based on medical diagnosis such as spinal cord injury, and were not specific for the unique functional demands of each sport. However, more recent transitions from medical classification to sport-specific classification systems have resulted in functional classification, where classification is based on an athlete’s functional abilities specific to the physical demands of each unique sport. Functional classification systems ensure that athletes with a combination of impaired or absent upper and lower limb movement have an opportunity to play the sport and that the strategies and skills of competing teams and athletes, rather than the amount of movement of the athletes, are the factors determining success in competition.
The IWRF Wheelchair Rugby Classification System
Wheelchair Rugby, with roots in wheelchair basketball and ice hockey, began in Canada in the 1970's as a counterpart to wheelchair basketball for people with quadraplegia or quad-equivalent function. The first classification system was medically based and there were three classes, largely determined by medical diagnosis and level of spinal cord injury. In 1991, the system was changed to a functional classification system unique to the sport of wheelchair rugby. This was done for many reasons, including the need to have a system that would accommodate the growing number of athletes both with and without spinal cord injury (such as polio, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and amputations).
The Classification Process
Wheelchair rugby athletes, because of the unique and varied nature of their muscle function, demonstrate combinations of varying stomach, back, chest, arm and leg movement in performing the wheelchair rugby skills of ball handling, such as passing, catching, carrying, and dribbling; and wheelchair skills that include pushing, starting, stopping, directional changes, tackling and blocking.
To determine an athlete’s class, classifiers observe athletes as they perform a variety of these movements.
- Bench Test; Classifiers test athletes’ limbs for strength, flexibility, sensation, and muscle tone; and athletes’ trunks (abdominal and back muscles) for balance, ability to bend over and rise up and the ability to rotate to both sides (in combination with leg function, if present).
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Functional Skills Test; The athlete is then observed performing both ball handling and wheelchair skills prior to game play and during game play, if necessary.
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Game Observation; In addition, the athlete’s execution of ball and wheelchair handling skills are observed on court during actual game play.
Typically, an athlete is assigned a class following the completion of the bench test and the functional skills test prior to game play (observation of ball handling and wheelchair skills). The athlete’s execution of ball and wheelchair handling skills are observed on court during actual play to make a final determination of the athlete’s class.
Player Responsibility
It is responsibility of both players and coaches to be educated about the classification process and the proper procedure. Athletes are responsible for arriving at the classification area at their assigned times and in their playing chairs with gloves, straps and any other equipment that they use during play. Equally as important, the athlete must give full effort and cooperation. Any athlete perceived as not fully cooperating with the classification process may sustain penalties such as:
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May not be given a classification, thus be ineligible to play
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May be disqualified from a tournament, thus be ineligible to play
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May have their class changed at any time
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May not be awarded an international class
In the event that an athlete enters the classification area under the influence of any performance altering substance, the athlete will be asked to leave without receiving a classification and therefore will not be eligible to play.
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